The scorching hot summers are somehow pleasant if you have a cool and frizzy drink of delectable root beer in your hand. Check out this article to expand your knowledge base of root beer extract.

Root Beer Extract

Isn’t it so amazing that the bark of a tree can produce a deliciously saccharine carbonated beverage? Yes, we’ve all heard of root beer derived from the root of a sassafras plant and relished its eternal sweetness. In fact, the flavor lingers in your lips at the mere mention of ‘root beer’. There are two versions of commercially sold root beer; one is non-alcoholic which the youngsters lap up in seconds while the other is the alcoholic root beer, a magic potion to many adults! Popularity of root beer is growing faster than ever and is the staple drink in several parts of North America. During the older days, root beer extract was wholly produced from sassafras roots. However, scientific researchers discovered that these roots contained cancer causing agents which posed as severe threats to mankind. Therefore, the use of sassafras roots for production of food and beverages in USA was banned by the FDA. Due to this event, majority of the root beer extracts available in the market holds a lesser percentage of the actual root extract and more of artificial flavoring! Scroll down to gain a better insight about root beer extract.
 
Root Beer Recipe 
Since the root beers sold in present day supermarkets possess a higher content of artificial flavors and spices than the real thing, people prefer to make it at home. Listed below are the base ingredients and spices that make root beer everything it is!
 
Base Ingredients
  • Sassafras root
  • Cherry
  • Dandelion
  • Sweet birch
  • Black birch
  • Red & Black Varieties of Spruce
  • Wintergreen
  • Burdock
  • Sarsaparilla
  • Rot Beer Plant
  • Vanilla
  • Ginger & Juniper 
Additive Ingredients
  • Cinnamon
  • Barley
  • Maple Syrup
  • Balsam
  • Fir
  • Chocolate
  • Allspice
  • Barley
  • Fennel
  • Mint
  • Anise
  • Molasses
  • Cane sugar
  • Yucca root
  • Soapbark
  • Nutmeg
  • Clove
  • Cassia 
As majority of these ingredients have been supplanted by carbonation, usage of the preservative sodium benzoate has drastically increased.
 
Finding The Right Root Beer Extract
Root beer extract as well as the root beer concentrate can both be easily found in any grocery stores. In order to get your hands on the pure and flavorful extract, it is recommended that you drop by the closest local brewery supply center. Additional flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg, cane sugar and so on are available in practically every grocery store. If you happen to be short of patience, you can buy root beer extract on the internet after a brief search on the web. You may avail of a good discount. Just ensure that you choose a good and recognizable brand. 
 
Steps To Make Homemade Root Beer With Extract
A tasty drink can be effortlessly made with root beer extract or concentrate. Top that with sugar, water, dry ice and the desired spices to treat your lips to an utterly delightful liquid. One gallon of homemade root beer entails 1 pound of sugar to be dissolved into one gallon of water. Later, a sufficient quantity of root beer extract must be stirred into the gallon, followed by a pound of dry ice. Wait for the concoction to settle down as you watch the ice sublimate to its fullest. Fill the contents into a plastic container of high quality and then refrigerate overnight. 
 
Additional Tips & Warnings
  • Remember not to seal the container directly after pouring in the concoction because potential pressure built up by the dry ice may cause the container to burst.
  • Never expose the root beer to high heat since the rate of evaporation is very high.
  • You can use a funnel so as to add the ingredients in sequence.
  • For the alcoholic version, a fine solution of extract and sugar is used. This is later fermented with yeast to create a beverage with 0.4% alcohol content.
  • For the non-alcoholic root beer, serve with ice cream for the kids to savor.

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